Project Spotlight: Redirecting Water & Refreshing A Driveway in Clarksville, VA

Key Takeaway: This project showcase highlights how Maplehurst Outdoor Living helped a homeowner prevent water damage and improve their curb appeal through thoughtful grading, drainage, sod installation, stone edging, and a fresh concrete driveway apron with a trench drain. It's a great example of how smart landscaping and hardscaping can work together to solve real problems while elevating a property’s look and functionality. 

When it comes to protecting your home from water damage, good landscaping and proper drainage are more than just nice-to-haves — they’re essential. At Maplehurst Outdoor Living, we recently helped a homeowner who was experiencing poor drainage and water pooling around their foundation. Their yard sloped the wrong way, the driveway directed runoff back toward the house, and mulch and gravel regularly washed out into the yard. Our goal? Fix the water issues for good, while also giving the front of the property a fresh, polished look. 

We started with a full yard and driveway grading plan. By stripping away the existing sod and mulch, we were able to regrade the space to achieve a proper slope away from the home — a key factor in keeping water from seeping into the foundation. We buried all the gutter lines and installed two drain basins in strategic spots: one near the new driveway pad and another at the corner where runoff collected most. These basins help collect and redirect water toward the dry creek bed at the back of the property, keeping it away from the home’s structure. 

A small berm was added to the edge of the driveway to keep runoff from sneaking around back. The driveway itself was reshaped and refreshed with three loads of gravel, ensuring a stable, low-maintenance surface with positive drainage. 

To tie it all together visually and functionally, we installed stone edging along the front and side yard where the driveway meets the mulch beds. This not only prevents erosion but also keeps gravel and mulch from blending — delivering a crisp, clean look. On the side of the house, we extended a dry creek bed to carry water safely away and reshaped the yard so water naturally flows toward it instead of across the driveway or toward the house. 

We finished the yard with fresh Bermuda sod, providing immediate ground cover to lock in the new grading and prevent erosion. It also gave the home a lush, healthy front lawn from day one. 

To complete the transformation, we poured a brand-new 24x20 concrete driveway apron in front of the double-car garage. The slab was reinforced with rebar and wire mesh for strength, and included a trench drain at the natural low point to collect and redirect stormwater efficiently. With a light broom finish and a picture-framed edge, the new driveway looks as sharp as it is functional. 

This project is a great example of how smart landscape design can solve drainage problems, protect your home, and make your property stand out — all at the same time.

Give us a call today to start your project!